Stacking rack for pallets



July 4, 1961 E. A. sElZ SMOKING RACK FOR PALLETS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Maron 1l, 1959 INVENTOR j 25 EDWARD Ast-:lz

BY W

ATTYS.

July 4, 1961 E. A. sElz 2,991,033

STACKING RACK FOR PALLETS Filed Maron 11, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HE7 H55. Flinn.

INVENTOR I EDWARD A. SEIZ ATTYS,

July 4, 1961 E. A. sl-:lz

STACKING RACK FOR PALLETS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Maron. l1, 1959 ITIEI.

mvENTon: EDWARD A. SElZ A'rTYs i States Patentce a Patented VJuly 4, 1961 2,991,033 STACKING RACK FOR PALLETS VNEdward A.` Seiz, Lansdale, Pa., assignor to Hatfield In- Vvv|lustl'ies, Inc., Hatfield, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 11, 1959, SenNo. 798,691

' 8 Claims. (Cl. 248-120) The present invention relates to a stacking rack assem- FV bly-for mounting loaded pallets in tiered relation. The Tvinvention has particular application to stacking rack "assemblies for fusewit-h wooden pallets of standard divr`on-the pallet, xtend to a substantial extent into the load- V--ing space and reduce the space available for loading of 4ftliie pallet, and/or are cumbersome and space-consuming 'y-vvhen knocked down for shipping.

primary abject of the present invention is to provide "van improved stacking rack having substantial structural `rigidity- Which is highly economical to fabricate and is possessed of none of the disadvantages listed above.

"" The stacking rack of the present invention provides a structure having a substantially open top for loading and unloading from above, but affords ample distribution of `the load of the succeeding pallet over the entire top structure of the rack.

f fThe present invention provides an assembly composed of four 'identical upright members interconnected into a sturdy and rigid structure'capable of supporting the suc- "ce'ssive loaded pallets stacked thereon.

The present invention also provides a stacking rack f'a'ssembly which is simply and expeditiously assembled "and is capable of being shipped or stored in a limited L' space whenlknocked down'.

SAll of the objects of the present invention are more fully set forth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

' FIG. l is a view in perspective of an assembled stacking rack mounted on a pallet;

l FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the upright members of the assembly;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the member shown .in FIG. 2;

` pallet.

4vides a stacking rack formed of four substantially identical upright members having a horizontal cross piece and a pair of depending leg portions which converge downwardly and terminate in feet adapted to be mountedlon a The four upright members are adapted to be connected adiacent their upper extremities so that the cross pieces define a framework having a square opening overlying the central portion of the pallet and constituting a support structure for the succeeding pallet mounted'thereon. The connected leg portions of the two adjacent upright members diverge downwardly to form an inverted V-frame support whereby the assembled rack has four inverted V-frame supports for the square supporting framework in the upper por-tion of the assembly.

By reason of the structure described above, a stacking rack of improved rigidity is provided and the load of the succeeding pallet is uniformly distributed upon the eight leg portions of the rack assembly. The invention provides a substantial economy in construction inasmuch as the uprights may be formed of tubular members by simple bending operations and the number of welding operations is reduced to a minimum. The open area above the center of the pallet is highly desirable in many uses and at least four corners of the cubicle space Within the rack are open for loading or unloading purposes.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS.

l to 8 inclusive, the stacking rack assembly comprises four upright members designated generally at 15, two end base members 16, and two side base members 17. The elements of the assembly are adapted to be interconnected to form a rigid supporting structure which may be readily 'inserted on and removed from the pallet by vertical displacement into and out of engagement therewtih. Each upright 15 comprises a horizontal cross piece v 2-1 and a pair of leg portions 22 and 23 which converge downwardly and terminate in foot portions 24 and 25 respectively. VA vertical connecting section is provided between each leg portion and the proximate end of the FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional views taken on showing the connection between two of the upright members;1 FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line v8--8 of yFIG.. 7;

. lied connection; a

FIG. 10 is a detached perspective view of certain ele- `ments of the modified connection shown in FIG. 9;

Y FIG. ll is a perspective view of an'assembled stacking rackV according to the invention which is particularly adapted `for mounting on -a smaller pallet;

FIG. l2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the base portion of one upright member; FIG. 13 isa view at a reduced scale in side elevation Vlof the rack assembly shown in FIG. 11;

f.. i FIG. 9 is a sectional View similar to FIG. s of a modi- The horizontal web 35 of the `base member 16 rests on Vthe end board 32 of the pallet. Adjacent each end of 'the' web 35, a bridge 36 is formed, in the present instance, by pressing out a portion of the web. The bridge 36 is spaced upwardly from the web 35 a distance suiiicient to permit passage of one of the feet 24 and 25 thereunder. A latch element 37 depends from the bridge at its. outermost end and in the present instance, is formed by an indentation in the horizontal span of the bridge.

By reason of this construction, there is a certain amount of resilience in the latch portion 37. A keeper aperture 38 is. formed in the leg to receive the latch 37, the free end of the foot 25 operating to displace the latch 37 upwardly as the foot is inserted under the bridge 36. A nail ed hole is provided at 39 in the foot in the event it is desired having a depending flange 41 adapted to bear against the FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 1l of a modified form f Referring to the drawings, the presentinvention proside of the pallet along the length of the outside stringer 34. The horizontal ange 42 of the base member 17 rests on the boards 32 of the pallet and is formed with downturned fingers 43lwhich are adapted to pass between .the boards of the pallet and to lie inside of the` stringer 3410 prevent lateral displacement of the base. The hori- Vzontal flange 42 of the base member 17 is provided ad- .jacent its oppositeaends with bridges 36 formed as described above in connection with the -base member 16.

In the assembly of the device, the feet 24 and 25 of the upright are snapped in place under the bridges 36 in the base members 16 and 17, and the connecting portions 26 and 27 of adjacent uprights are secured together. Any suitable fastener may be employed, but I have shown in FIG. 7 a bolted connection provided by a nut 45 and bolt 46 passing through apertures in the respective connecting portions 26 and 27. To prevent distortion of the tubular form of the connecting portions 26 and 27 by the nut 4S and the head of the bolt 46, saddles 49 are provided as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. To provide greater structural rigidity in the connection, the nut and bolt may be tightened so as to flatten the confronting faces of the tubular portions 26 and 27. In the alternative, the tubular portions may be preformed as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, with a flat portion 51 so that when the connecting portions 26a and '27a are engaged, substantial rigidity is provided. In place of saddles of sheet metal as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, cast or machined saddles as shown at 52 may be provided. Thus, it is apparent that the entire stacking rack assembly may be assembled by one man with simple nuts and bolts and the use of wrenches may be eliminated by the use of a suitable snap fastener adapted to secure the connecting portions 26 and 27 together.

In this embodiment of the invention, the four cross pieces 21 of the uprights form a square framework having a central opening overlying the center of the pallet and upon which the succeeding pallets may rest with the load distributed substantially uniformly over the entire surface. This form of stacking rack leaves the corners of the pallet open for loading and unloading and the supporting legs 22 and 23 of the upright are in a vertical plane so that they do not project over the body of the pallet. Thus, the entire cubicle space overlying the pallet within the stacking rack is free `ifor use. When using the support members 16 and 17, the assembled rack may be engaged and disengaged from the pallet by simple vertical displacement. When it is desired to knock down the assembly, the fasteners for the connecting portions 26 and 27 may be disconnected and the feet may be disengaged from the bridges by flexing the latch 3'7 out of engagement with the keeper aperture 38, and then sliding the foot from under the bridge 66. When it is desired to permanently secure the rack to the pallet, the bases 16 and 17 may be omitted and the feet nailed directly to the pallet by means of the nail hole 39.

Another form of stacking rack is illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13 inclusive. The construction embodied in this form is particularly applicable to pallets of smaller dimensions. As shown, the rack comprises four uprights, each designated 50 and comprising a horizontal cross piece 51, depending legs 52 and 53 which converge downwardly, and terminate in feet 54 and 55 which overlie one another and, in the present instance, are interconnected by welding asindicated at 56. A central aperture is provided at 57 for securing the feet to the pallet. Intermediate the ends of cross piece 51 and the legs 52 and 53, vertical connecting portions 58 and 59 are provided. Fasteners indicated generally at 60 secure the connecting portions 58 and 59 of adjoining upright members 50 together to unite the uprights into a rigid assembly. The details of the construction of the uprights and the fasteners are similar to those of the previously described embodiment.

The cross pieces 51 are united into a square framework having a central opening overlying the center of the pallet and providing a firm supporting structure for the succeeding pallet. The load on the cross pieces 51 is uniformly distributed to the eight leg portions 52 and 53 which are supported at the corners of the pallet. This construction not only leaves the upper corners of the cubicle defined by the rack open for loading and unloading, but also leaves the lower central portions of each side open. As in the previously described embodiments,

the legs 52 and 53 are in a truly vertical plane so as not to obstruct the cubicle space defined within the rack thereby enabling the pallet to be loaded out to its edges for the full height (see FIG. 13). The rigid interconnection of the legs 5'2 and 53 of each upright provides substantial rigidity to the assembly and the rigid connection at 60 provides a strong supporting frame in the nature of an inverted V-frame for supporting the square @framework formed by the cross pieces 51.

When it is desired to have the lower corners of the enclosed space open, an assembly such as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 may be employed. In this embodiment of the invention, the assembly comprises four uprights 70, each having a cross piece 71 and depending leg portions 72 and 73 which converge downwardly and terminate in feet 74 and 75 which may be welded together and secured to the centers of the side edges of the pallet, for example by nailing, as indicated at 76. Connecting portions 78 and 79 are provided between the leg portions and the cross piece and are adapted to be connected by a suitable fastener as indicated at 80. In this embodiment of the invenion, the leg portions 72 and 73 are coplanar with the sides of the pallet and are inclined slightly over the body of the pallet to insure that the square framework formed by the cross pieces 71, comes within the confines ofthe next succeeding pallet. The structure has the same advantages as the structure of FIGS. 11 to 13 as far as its structural rigidity is concerned, while only slightly reducing the usable space within the framework.

In each embodiment of the invention the tubular form of the structural members provides improved visibility when mounting the successive pallets in stacked relation. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 11 the V-notch formed above the joined connecting portions provides a convenient sighting line for insuring proper alignment of the assembly with the previously stacked assemblies as the lift truck approaches the stack.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been herein illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure, but changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A stacking rack assembly for mounting on a rectangular pallet comprising four similar upright members each having a horizontal cross piece and a pair of downwardly depending leg portions converging downwardly from the ends of said cross piece, means for mounting the lower terminal ends of said leg portions on a pallet against lateral displacement, and means connecting said uprights at the upper ends of said leg portions to form said cross pieces into a generally rectangular framework having an open center adapted to overlie the center of a pallet, the leg portions of adjacent uprights forming an upstanding inverted V-frame adapted to overlie the marginal edge of a pallet.

2. A stacking rack assembly according to claim 1 wherein each upright comprises a vertical connecting section intermediate each leg and the cross piece, and including fasteners interconnecting the adjacent vertical connecting sections of adjacent uprights to unite the same.

3. A stacking rack according to claim 1 wherein the adjacent leg portions forming each inverted V-frame are disposed in a vertical plane and are adapted to meet at the top at a point overlying the center of the underlying marginal portion of a pallet whereby said rectangular frameworkformed by said cross pieces is adapted to have its corners overlying the centers of the underlying marginal portions of a pallet.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for mounting the lower end of said leg portions on a pallet includes an out-turned foot portion having an aperture therein.

5. A stacking rack assembly according to claim 4 5 wherein said mounting means includes means forming a bridge adapted to be secured to a pallet overlying said foot portions and having a latch element operable to engage in said opening.

6. A stacking rack assembly according to claim 5 including a base member adapted to engage a pallet along each marginal edge thereof and mounting said bridge means, said base member having means adapted -to en- 'gage a pallet so as to prevent displacement thereof in a horizontal plane.

7. A stacking rack assembly according to claim 4 wherein the leg portions of each upright member converge downwardly to a point and the feet thereof overlap and are secured together at said point.

8. A stacking rack assembly according to claim 7 wherein the leg portions of each upright member are Substantially coplanar with said cross piece and are adapted to be coplanar with the marginal portion of a pallet and to connect with the leg sections of the adjacent upright member at points overlying the corners of a pallet whereby said rectangular framework provided by said cross pieces, overlies the periphery of a pallet.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,828,932 De Pew Apr. 1, 1958 2,828,933 De Pew Apr. l, 1958 2,875,904 Gingher Mar. 3, 1959 2,879,561 Rieder Mar. 3l, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,089,616 France Oct. 6, 1954 

